He reached for the classic What to Expect When You’re Expecting and opened it to the first chapter to scan it. Ainsley knew that she was going to be an auntie soon, but he hadn’t told anyone else just yet. He wanted to wait for the six-month mark, to make sure that Noa and the baby would be okay. Not that six months were a guarantee of anything, he just felt that was a safer point in time to tell everyone.
There was so much going on in his head that he wasn’t paying much attention to what was going on around him.
Being without his son was a strange thing for him to get used to, but he was proud that his oldest was now in kindergarten. Eli had his one year old daughter in her stroller, facing him so he could watch her. She was currently asleep with her binkie in her mouth, wearing a cute dress Lily picked out for her before heading out to visit her sister’s store. Barnes & Noble was not on his list of stops today but he was curious to see if he could get some new books for Collin and some sensory books for Willow.
Walking into the store, he instantly noticed the tall man in the same section he was about to be in, surprised there was someone around his height. Hell, the man looked like he was actually taller than his 6’4 so that was even more interesting. He wasn't usually one for socializing but he was feeling generous today. It didn't take him too long to make it over to the baby section, spotting the taller man reading the most common book on child rearing.
Eli shook his head before quietly clearing his throat, low and monotone voice coming through despite the fact that he wanted to sound friendlier, “I can tell you that book is useless compared to the actual thing.”
Idirian looked up as he heard a voice that seemed to be talking to him since he was the only other person in this aisle. It was unusual for him to meet someone as tall as he was; even Dmitry and Damien were a few inches shorter. But this man with the long hair and baby in a stroller was almost his height. “Is it? Good to know,” he said and put the book back.
“Have any recommendations?” Clearly the other man had gone through at least one pregnancy, so maybe he would have some good advice. When Gina had been pregnant with Ainsley, Idri kept his distance. Aside from hiding or destroying her drugs and alcohol to keep the baby safe, anyway. He may have added her drugs to his father’s stash, hoping the b*****d would OD and save all of them some trouble. Sadly, he hadn’t been so accommodating.
“I have experience raising a kid, but not so much pregnancy and babies,” he said, turning back to the shelves as if the perfect book would begin to glow or something.
Recommendations?
No, not really.
“To be fair, I just…Rolled with the punches. My first was easy but I think that’s because my other half is the most lax person I know.” A bundle of sunshine, his wife. How the hell they worked together was a mystery still to this day, but he wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. Lily was a saint and he would happily do and be whatever she needed so she could continue to stay that way. There was a small whine and he looked down into the blue eyes of his daughter, reaching down to unbuckle her so he could pick her up. The smile on Willow’s face always made him smile in return, which he did as soon as he saw that she was fully awake.
“A book can tell you the basics, but when your child actually arrives, you’ll find that none of that s**t, except the medical will apply. My daughter follows that experience to a T.” The one year old brought her face close to his and he gave her an eskimo kiss just as she said da-da. “If you…Want, I could tell you about my experience with my oldest as well as what I'm experiencing with my second?” He wasn't use to the whole socializing thing except whenever he was around Lily’s family and his cousin Ryan’s family.
But this guy seemed pretty lax so he could suffer through socializing to help a fellow tall in need.
Willow was already glaring at the tall man, hand reaching up to grasp her binky as if she were sizing him up.
Idri nodded a bit as the other man spoke; that had been what he was afraid of. Noa was more relaxed than he was, it was true, but he needed to know the possibilities. He wanted to be prepared for anything that might happen.
Yes, he knew that was unrealistic thank you, but Noa was the woman he loved and he would do anything to keep her and their baby safe. A small smile played on the edges of his lips as the other man picked up his daughter. Socializing wasn't his forte, but the man was offering insight into both of his experiences. “That would be amazing,” he said. “I'm Idirian, by the way.” He would have held his hand out to shake the other man's but he was currently holding a baby that was giving Idri the side eye.
“Elijah. You can just call me Eli.”
Everyone else did and it was easier on him anyway, even if his name was stupidly easy to say. He saw what his daughter was doing and chuckled, “This is Willow, my youngest and mini-me except for the red hair. That, she inherited from my wife.” And he couldn't be any more proud. Willow had his eyes and rbf, but Lily’s hair while Colin had the dual colored eyes of Lily and blonde hair. He wasn't sure which side he got that from considering. The bubbly sunshine behavior also came from Lily. Willow rested her head on her father while still holding her binkie to her mouth, staring at the big tall man that was some how bigger than her own dad.
Eli freed one of his hands and held it out for Idirian to shake, balancing his daughter like a pro. “We could go to the Starbucks around here if you like or we could go to the food court. I'm pretty good either way.” In reality, he really hopped the other man would choose starbucks. Not for the food or coffee, but for the fact that it would be less crowded and he could avoid too many people fawning over his child. Eli really wasn't a people person and removing starseeds in public was not kosher. Nor was it okay to do that infront of his daughter.
That wouldn't stop him from marking targets for later though.
Idirian nodded. “Nice to meet you, Eli and Willow,” he said as he reached out to shake the other man's hand. He could see how the little one closely resembled her father, and he wondered if his son would take after him or Noa more. Would it be strange seeing his features or hers on a tiny human? Part of him thought a mini-Noa would be the best he could hope for considering his personality, but he was already outnumbered by the gremlins.
“Starbucks sounds like the better option.” Fewer people in an enclosed area, and if he was lucky there would be a table for them near the back. Eli seemed to be much like Idri in that they didn't like people all that much. He was grateful that Eli was willing to talk to him about his experiences.
And as much as the other side of him would love to victimize some entitled Karens and Kevins, it wasn't smart to do around someone you just met and definitely not okay to do in front of their kid. That was something he hadn't thought about. He knew that Noa was restricted from powering up while she was pregnant, but now he was realizing that after the baby was born they would both be restricted from powering up whenever they wanted. Unless they got a babysitter. Other than Ainsley. He loved his sister, but fourteen was not old enough to babysit an infant. There was so much more to think about now with a baby involved.
Not that he would change anything about their current situation. It just meant figuring a couple extra things out, that was all. He and Noa could do that.
Dragon Berri
